Vaticon City Press Release
October 30, 2001

Dope Con Paul II forms provisional government from the surviving members of his cabinet. The survivors, known as the Rivergate Alliance, have been named after the Marcusberg hotel in which they are resting. His Dopieness issued the following statement today:

"October 24, 2001. As I’m sure you all know, on this day, the peaceful nation of Vaticon City was unjustly attacked without cause by the technologically advanced hordes of the Meijingnese Empire. We had followed a non-interference policy towards Mapp affairs, in an effort to avoid sparking international conflict. Now, the Meijingnese infidels have betrayed the trust that we lent other nations and attacked us in what can only be seen as an act of war. Although our citizens were in no position to stage an insurrection against the superior Meijingnese forces, we will not rest until our country is liberated.

"We call upon the nations of the Nexus to unite in declaring Meijing an aggressor state, and to join us in denouncing the events of October 24, 2001. Let all peace loving nations join us in an alliance against the Meijingnese, so that our people may live freely once more.

"This time the [Pharaoh] has gone too far. Help us return to the peace and liberty that we once enjoyed. Please."